“Racing online helped develop my powers of concentration”: 14-year-old Speedruns winner

From left: Viren Boteju, Calvin Kingsley, Riyaz Hafrath and Ceylon Motor Sports Club President Niroshan Pereira

Fourteen-year-old Calvin Kingsley, a student of Asian International School, an avid car enthusiast and e-sports racer, who won the first ever Speedruns E-Racing Championship in Sri Lanka said that racing online helped him develop his powers of concentration and focus.

The Championship finale held at the One Galle Face mall on 5 September was the closure to a series of events culminating in the overall Championship. 

Kingsley was unperturbed by the immense pressure brought on by Viren Boteju and Riyaz Hafrath, who were placed 2nd and 3rd respectively

Thiyago Pereira who fought tooth and nail with Riyaz and Viren saw his valiant effort come to an end when he went off the track.

The first round of the Speedruns championship was held in Matara and the second, third and final in Colombo as the rounds which were to be held in Kandy and Jaffna had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Over 100 participants had the opportunity to experience the latest play seat technology in the field of e-sports – PS4 racing simulators of international specifications. The Speedruns Championship was a joint effort by Mandarin Ried and the Ceylon Motor Sports Club.

Calvin Kingsley qualified for the final winning Round 1 of the Championship held in Matara in October 2019.

Here jubilant Calvin speaks about his experience:

Text and Pix by P.D. De Silva 

Q: How does it feel to be the winner of the inaugural Speed Runs Championship? 

It feels great, obviously. I am very thrilled, and happy to have won it against such great competition. We had a great bunch of people in the finals, and I am happy to have won the Championship. I would like to thank my parents and my mentor without whose help and guidance this would not have been possible.

Q: What made you take to esports? 

 Well my father and I have always been playing the Playstation motor racing games. The family loves racing too, so I guess it’s been in the family. My father’s friend, and my mentor, told us about this new emerging sport. I tried it out and really enjoyed it and told my parents. They got the gear down for me, and I practiced and managed to win the Round 1 Championship in Matara. During the COVID-19 lockdown, since there was not much to do as we were stuck inside the house, and as school was also online, I had time to play and enjoyed it a lot. 

Then the Ceylon Motor Sports Club (CMSC) also started its ‘Race from Home Championships,’ which is still ongoing. It is a great way of spending your time while looking at a screen and I enjoyed the competition being held every other weekend. Since my father and mother both like racing, they also supported me.

 

Q: How long have you been engaged in esports? 

 I started this only last year. I used to play on the Playstation, but serious practice was only from last October.

Q: How do you think esports has helped you in real life?

 Racing online helped me develop my powers of concentration and my focus, and I can say that this has helped me in my studies also. When studying, without focus, you will not learn or remember what you have learnt properly. In racing, without focus, you will have an accident and be out of the race. I know that e-racing will also ensure that I will be a safe driver when I finally get my driver’s license.

Q: What are the learnings you put to use in the race? 

 Pit strategy is very important. Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the competition is another. I have been playing for the ‘Race from Home Championships’ and this has helped me understand the competition. I have also been playing online races with racers from across the world, and that has helped to improve my game overall.

I would once again like to thank my parents, uncle Sheran Cooke who lent me his PS4 when mine had to be repaired, and the CMSC without whom none of this would have been possible.